Darling, that's a wonderful idea!" said Lil. "Do the others know?"
"You're the only ones I've told," replied Chuckie. "I wanted to surprise all of you."
"You still can!" said Susie. "We can help!"
Lil took the scarf from Phil and wrapped it around Chuckie's hips.
"I would be more than happy to make you a proper costume! This will be just like the genie costumes I've made before - only better!"
"We can make our next sleepover a hafla!" cheered Susie as she playfully shook her hips.
The three girls and dog spent the next half hour searching the store for beads, coins and other accessories they could use for Chuckie's costume, along with the supplies for their next sleepover. With Susie's frequent shopper discount and a coupon, they got everything they needed for half the cost of one of the prefab costumes.
Chuckie thought about what Lilian said about having at least one helper. With two helpers – three if she counted Dil – he now had a fighting chance!
When Angelica Pickles arrived at Chuckie Finster's house, she was greeted at the door by Lil.
"Hey Lil!"
"Angelica, come right in, darling!"
As Angelica entered the living room, she found Dil and Kimi seated on the sofa, and reclining on one of Susie's over-sized cushions. They all greeted her as she set down her bag.
"Hey everybody," said Angelica as she sat down on another of Susie's cushions. "Where's Chuckie?"
"Just seeing to some last minute details." said Lil. "He'll be joining us very soon."
Angelica emerged from the kitchen carrying a big tray. "Who's up for some appetizers?"
Angelica set the tray down on the coffee table. The platter was filled with an assortment of apple slices, carrot and celery sticks and crackers. Next to the peanut butter and artichoke dip was a thick, pale yellow dip. Susie eyed the unfamiliar spread curiously.
"What's this stuff?"
"Ah think this is hummus." said Kimi.
"Something new, if anybody wants to try." said Susie.
Angelica scooped up some of the hummus with a cracker and took a bite. Susie followed suit.
"Mmm…not bad" said Susie.
"We've also got coffee, mint tea and baklava later on if anyone wants!" beamed Angelica.
"Sounds like the only thing missing is a hookah." quipped Angelica.
"A hooker?" asked Kimi mildly scandalized.
"Hookah." replied Angelica with a chuckle. "A water pipe."
By now, everybody had settled in. They were only missing one person.
"Where is Chuckie?" asked Kimi.
At that, Kimi gave a whistle over her shoulder. Dil, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, pressed a button on a nearby MP3 player. As a lively drum beat filled the room, the girls all glanced toward the hallway.
Chuckie emerged draped in a large turquoise veil. His ginger hair was down and his face made up. The girls set down their snacks to watch as she approached sinuously. With a grand flourish, Chuckie cast off the veil, revealing the beautiful costume Lil had made for him - a turqouise long sleeved top with flowers, belt and scarf with lined with gold accents.
The girls stared in awe as Chuckie Finster danced, the beads and coins on his costume rattling vibrantly with every movement. She seemed an entirely different person from the socially and physically awkward bookworm they had met during the Friendship Games. The middle school srudent who had nearly folded under pressure during the Tri-Cross Relay now emanated a powerful air of confidence. They almost expected him to move up!
As the song came to an end, Chuckie spun in place several times - something she could not do before without losing her balance - before gracefully dropping to her knees. He took a bow as her friends applauded and cheered.
"You never told us you belly danced!" said Kimi. "That was so beautiful!"
Tommy gave Chuckie a sly smile. "I knew that there was something different about you lately!"
"Different?" asked a puzzled Chuckie. "How?"
"The way you walk - the way you carry yourself now versus when we first met you during the Friendship Games."
"That, aaand you don't run into others as much as you used to." added Dil. "Must be all that footwork you're now doing."
"Great show, Chuckie!" said Angelica.
"Thank you all." said Chuckie. "I couldn't have done this without Dil and Kimi's help."
"What?" exclaimed Angelica as she glanced toward Lil and Susie as they giggled. "You gals knew?"
"It's quite a story." said Lil.
Lil and Susie told the others about their encounter at the party supply store earlier in the week. As they did, Chuckie quietly reflected on last couple of days. He had been ready to go it alone, but by some bizarre stroke of luck, the two people who could help his most found her. As a result, her demo performance had turned out even better than she ever imagined. His discovery of belly dance, and now her sharing it with her friends - she wondered if there was truly such a thing as fate. She could not wait to tell Tommy and Harold about this evening!
"Come on everybody!" Susie rose with her shirt rolled up to bare her midriff.
A familiar beat filled the living room – each of the Rainbooms recognized it instantly. It was an instrumental recording of the song they, minus Angelica, performed in the middle school to rally everybody to Chuckie Finster the first time he came to their world. Since then it had become their group's anthem – even Lil had grown fond of it.
The song had much different sound from the one that just played, but Chuckie had a move for every beat. They all joined in, following her lead – as best as they could. They laughed as they attempted to shimmy as fast as Chuckie. But they were all having fun together, and that was all that mattered.
While dancing may not solve any of their problems, it sure felt good to let their spirits soar!